Rheostat.



Patented June 19, 1900. T. F. JORDAN.

B H E 0 S T A T.

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1900.;

(No Model.)

(I o l i I l INVENTOf? .4 TEYS W/ TNESSES UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS F. JORDAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RH EO STAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,116, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filed March 20, 1900. Serial No. 9,353. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. JORDAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan andStateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRheostats, of which the following is a specification. I i

This invention relates to improvements in rheostats of that class whichare adapted for controlling the electric current in electroplating andgalvanoplastic operations; and the object of the invention is to providea rheostat having a considerable range of resistance and in which thecoils are so secured as to permit of ready removal and replacing andwhich are so arranged as to permit a free circulation of air about thesame.

The invention consists of a rheostat which comprises a plurality ofresistance-coils of varying resistances arranged in a series, means forsupporting said coils and connecting the same at their upper ends,contact-plates connecting the coils at their lower ends, aconducting-bar, and a switch-block guided in contact with saidcontact-plates and conducting-bar.

The invention consists, further, of certain details of construction andcombinations of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafterand finally pointed out in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of arheostat embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top View with the part Gremoved, as indicated by line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view, on alarger scale than Fig. 1, of the lower part of the rheostat; and Fig. 4is a vertical transverse section on line 4 4., Fig. 1.

Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an upright supporting-frame,which is preferably made of oblong shape and of slate or othersuitablenon-conductor. The frame A is secured to the base A, which isalso made of non conducting material. \Vithin the frame is arranged apartition A of similar material, and at the top of the same and securedthereto andto the frame sides is a horizontal plate A on which aremounted strips B of metal, preferably copper, which are insulated fromeach other, said strips B being provided with binding-posts b for firmlyattaching the lower ends of a plurality of resistance-coils R R, of ironor othermetal, having a low conductivity. In contact with thedownwardly-bent front portions of the strips or plates Bis placed theupper end of a switch-block O, which is guided'on a horizontal rod C,supported in movable blocks 0 of the frame A. The slide-block C is pro*vided with an insulated operating-handle h and is made of sufficientlength to extend from the insulated contact-plates B to a metallicconducting-bar D, which is secured to the base A. At one end of theconductingbar is arranged a binding-post d for attaclr ing theconducting-wire, by which the current is conducted into the rheostat.The ends of the slide-block O are pressed into frictional contact withthe contact-plates B and bar D by means of springs 8, each of which issecured atone end to one of the supportingblocks 0 of the guide-rod C,as shown in Fig. 3, and at the opposite end to the frame. The blocks 0are attached to the frame by means of bolts or screws d, between theheads of which and the blocks are interposed pressu re-springs s. Areliable frictional contact of the slide-block with the frontconductingbar D and contact-plates B is thereby produced. At one end ofthe base is'arranged a conducting-plate D, provided with binding-postse, to one of which is secured one end of a leading-out wire E, which iscon-. nected at its opposite end by the bindingpost Z2 with the firstcontact-plate B.

At the upper part of the upright frame A are arranged 'connecting stripsE, which are provided with binding-posts e for clamping the upper endsof the resistance-coils R R. The connecting-plates E may be attached tothe inside of the frame or to the outside of the same, as shown, in thelatter case a strip G of insulating material or other protecting meansbeing secured in position over the plates E to protect the same, so asto obviate accidental short-circuiting. The resistance-wires RR are ofvarying diameters and resistances and are arranged successively inpairs, according to resistance, preferably in two parallel lines, asshown, from one side of the frame to the other, the coils of each pairbeing connected at their upper ends by a connecting-plate E and eachpair being connected with the adjacent pair by a contact-plate B. Thecoils thereby form a connected series from one side of the frame to theother, one end of the series being connected with the wire E. Theopposite end terminates without outside connection, and a blank contact93, which is not connected with the coils and which acts simply as arest for the switch-block O, is arranged at this end of the series.

Vhen the slide -block is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thecourse of the current is as follows: from the dynamo or other source ofelectricity successively through the wire 1, bar D, switch-block C,plate B in contact with the switch-block, up through the coil R,connected with said plate, then through the plate E, down coil E, intothe following plate 13, and so on successively up one coil and down theother of a pair, and then into the next pair, and finally into the wireE, plate D, and wire 2 to the platingbath or other place of use. Thecoil R (shown in Fig. 4) is not connected with the bindingpost N, asmight appear, but is the coil R of the next preceding contact-plate B.When the switch-block is in contact with the plate B, with which thewire E is connected, the current does notpass through any of the coils,but directly through bar D, switch block 0, plate B,wire E, and wire 2,and the entire current undiminished passes to the bath. On the contrary,when the switch 0 is placed in contact with the plate a" no current canpass, the circuit being broken. By shifting the block so that it restsupon any one of the contacts between these two the current may be causedto pass through any desired number of pairs of coils, and therebyregulated at will according to the requirements of the bath. Each step,however, comprises two coils, and to provide for finer graduations ofthe current strength or for higher resistances one or more additionalsets of coils having resistances suitable for the purpose desired aresupplied. The removal of one set and replacing of another requires but ashort time, and thus any desired resistance may by the use of differentsets of coils be obtained.

vThe advantages of my improved rheostat are as follows: First, aconsiderable range of resistance is secured, so that the current at handmay be regulated without the use of extra coils for all ordinary platingpurposes with great facility; second, the facility with which theindividual coils can be replaced with new ones in case of injury by thecnrrent, or any particular pair or single coil re moved and replaced byothers or another of different resistance for any special resistancedesired; third, the simplicity of construction and ease with which itcan be cleaned and kept free from dust or metallic particles liable tocause short-circuiting; fourth, the unlimited range of resistancereadily obtainable by the use of different sets of coils, therebyrendering the rheostat of universal application, and, fifth, the openconstruction by which the air is permitted to circulate freely about thecoils, thereby keeping the same cool and less liable to injury by thecurrent.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. Arheostat, consisting of a plurality ofresistance-coils arranged in pairs, means for supporting the same,connecting-plates connecting the coils of each pair, contact-platesconnecting the successive pairs, a switchblock, a conducting-bar, andmeans for guiding said switch-block along the contact-plates andconducting-bar,substantially as set forth.

2. A rheostat, consisting of an upright supportingiframe ofnon-conducting material, a plurality of resistance-coils arranged inpairs, means for connecting the coils of each pair, contact-platesconnecting each pair with the next, a conducting-bar, and aslidingswitchblock guided at the lower part of the frame and connecting thecontact-plates with the conductingbar, substantially as set forth.

A rhcostat, consisting of an upright supporting-frame of non-conductingmaterial, a plurality of resistance-coils of varying resistancesarranged successively in pairs in said frame, connecting-platesconnecting the upper ends of the coils of each pair, contactplatcsconnecting the lower end of one coil of each pair with a coil. of thenext pair, a conducting-bar, a switclnbloclc, means for guiding saidswitch-block over the contact-plates and conducting-bar and means forholding said switch-block in frictional contact with the contact-platesand conducting-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS F. JORDAN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GonPEL, J. H. NILES.

